I loved the Leicester City story as much as any of you. Well, maybe not just as much. Leicester’s title win was astonishing, but it was no fairy story. They outperformed far wealthier clubs, sure, but this was achieved by spending the kind of money Celtic couldn’t dream of parting with.
Apart from their league win, Project Leicester was typical of the financial chicanery which has been prevalent in English football for so long, and which Financial Fair Play seeks to end.
Right now they are in freefall. If they go down, loaded with an underperforming squad on eye-wateringly high salaries, they will find it impossible to downsize sufficiently to give anyone sitting around the King Power Stadium boardroom table that they will be able to achieve stability in the Championship.
Once you drop out of the Enland and Wales Premier League, the biggest parachute in the world simply isn’t big enough. Two of the three Championship relegation places are currently occupied by recent Premier League clubs. Aston Villa, twice the size of Leicester but with a far smaller wage bill, are currently 17th. Leicester will look ominously at Blackpool, 14th in League Two, and appreciate how rapidly a Premier League relegation fight can turn into something altogether more serious.
Claudio Ranieri is a football hero, but even from the outside it has been plain to see that something has been seriously wrong under his control in recent months. His comments before the Sevilla game, “we know they are the better team”, spoke of a man who didn’t believe in himself or his players anymore.
It is never easy to spot when a managerial hero should move on from a club where he’s loved, exect in hindsight. Clough was the greatest English manager, but stayed on far too long at Nottingham Forest. Relegation was his reward.
Jock Stein’s sacking as Celtic manager in 1978 was shabbily handled, as was the way at the club back then. I was too young to know the best of Jock’s years at Celtic, but I remember the grief he got from the terraces during his last four seasons, when Rangers (remember them?) won three titles and two trebles.
No one will tell you they got on Jock’s case back then, but it happened. Football fans in the 1970s took no prisoners.
Looking back, Jock stayed too long at Celtic. He produced miracles for five years then managed decline for eight. He should have taken the Manchester United job when offered. Clough squeezed two League Cups out of his squad in 1989 and 1990 and should have headed for this hills right then.
As for Claudio, he should have bowed out a champion in May. He didn’t have managerial alchemy after all, it was inevitable that performances would return to his normal trend this season. Someone at Leicester had to take responsibility. That’s football – and it’s not even a modern aspect of it.
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The weather forecast is for winds to abate and the sun to shine before KO time at Celtic Park.
My selection forecast is as follows:
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Simunovic Tierney
Bitton
Forrest Brown Armstrong Sinclair
Dembele
Griffiths , McGregor and Izaguirre to replace Dembele, Armstrong and Tierney IF we are two or three up.
JJ
jj, expect Tierney to be rested….Izzy to replace him….otherwise…..nice pick….tho would prefer the Griff up front ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
Sounds of the sixties with Brian Matthew on his last stint on radio 2.Still sounds great. Memories ah.
TheLurkinTim
I considered that re Tierney ( and maybe even giving Gamboa a run out) but Brendan tends to go with the tried and trusted.
JJ
Good morning friends from a very very wet, blustery and thick cloud covered East Kilbride. A day for keeping the high balls low.
JJ,
aye n naw….Brendan tends to go with who is training well…..Izzy should start….Gamboa needs game time…..as does the Griff….it’s a nice conundrum to have ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
Mornin Jobo….that’s Doris for you…..park run this morn…..or tea and a full breakie ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
Caught the second half of the Friday night game from Inverness on BT and it looked to me very much like two poor teams desperate for three points scrapping it out in an end of season relegation battle. Both teams were wide open defensively and it was only their mutual inability to pass or shoot effectively that kept the score down.
We would have taken a barrel load of either team if they played us like that last night.
cv
Who leaked the team to Hot Smoked?
CV,
Am sorry….but from what I saw….it was an evenly contested sh*te match…..up for the takin for either of them…..front to back or back to front….both teams were p@sh…..although I did notice the lack of agricultural tackles from ICT….and the usual laughathon re the MIB…..;-))
76 MINSI’LLNEVERGETBACKCSC
FTSFA
H.H.
Celtic that’s the team for me,
Celtic, Celtic on to victory,
They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,
We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the Scottish football league.
They come from bonnie Scotland, they come from county Cork,
They come from dear old Donegal and even from New York,
From every street in Glasgow they proudly make their way,
To a place called dear old paradise and this is what they say.#
Celtic, Celtic that’s the team for me,
Celtic, Celtic on to victory,
They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,
We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the Scottish football league.
There’s Fallon, Young and Gemmell who proudly wear the green,
There’s Clark, McNeill and Kennedy the best there’s ever been,
Jim Johnstone, Murdoch, Chalmers, John Divers and John Hughes,
And sixty thousand Celtic fans who proudly shout the news.
Celtic, Celtic that’s the team for me,
Celtic, Celtic on to victory,
They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,
We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the Scottish football league.
repeat fading away into the background of your mind
Is Sviachenko injured…..I’d hav him in, in front ot of Boyata….given the conditions…..so itd be…..
………………..GORDON………………..
Gamboa…..Sviachenko….Simo……Izzy
Bitton
Forrest…..Broonie…..Armstrong…..Sinky
Griff
It’s a good option IMHO…..;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
BSR
I cannot reveal who leaked the team but Jobo might have given me the nod with regards to the weather .
JJ
Windy, dull and wet in darkest Lanarkshire this morning. Back to the gym today, family duties and hopefully ( all being well) off to Celtic Park this afternoon.
Take care out there in the wet morning there will be a lot of grumpy bears about. HH
We are on a tremendous run just now and most of it has been achieved using pure inventive football. During this run the Boyata-inspired 1:0 victories were highly important too.
Regardless of whether the run continues or we have an off-day and drop 1 or 3 points during the next month or so, this will remain etched in our memories as a fantastic season. Brendan, being backed with the quality of Sinclair and Toure, getting unexpected value from Moussa Dembele, and being allowed to dign a few back-ups with Premiership experience, has given us a standard that I did not think this squad was capable of reaching.
My peronal low point in our recent past was our Murrayfield performance against Legia. We had 4 current squad starters- Lustig, Izzy, Biton and McGregor and two of the subs- Forrest and Griffiths – are still with us. But fleshing out that team we had the quality of Forster in goal, Van Dijk at centre back and Johansen, coming off a POTY season. The other participants were Mathhews, Mulgrew, Commons, Stokes and Pukki but the point is that it was a strong team- a stronger team than the performance sugggested. All those players let us down that night- good as they were elsewhere in their careers- they underperformed atrociously that night. Not one of them put in an acceptable shift.
And we can see the effects of confidence being drained in performances like the last 2 Sevco matches- their squad really is not as bad as those results show- they reallly should be battling Aberdeen for 2nd place and be a bit better than Hearts and St. Johnstone. They still have seasoned pros in Hill, Miller and Wallace and they have promising youngsters in McKay and Hyndman- they have a slightly better squad- by SPFL standards than their osition suggests- but they are rightly, a long way behind the current Celtic.
Ronny Deila was no diddy but Brendan Rodgers is a serious upgrade and htese are marvellous times.
Whether we remain unbeaten or not, this will have been one of the memorable seasons.
THELURKINTIM,
They are closer to the bottom than the top.
The lack of the usual tough tackling from the highlanders was remarkable. Just goes to show what can be achieved when you abandon the agricultural style for missed penalties and overhead kicks.
SFTB
…..and, unusually for Celtic supporters, MOST are really enjoying the experience.
Contrary to some of the views expressed earlier ( and based only on BBC highlights) , I thought Sevco played some nice football last night and Hyndman caught the eye.
JJ
Well after much deliberation I’ve decided to follow the ole mantra of “have legs, will run”. Rain has eased back to just a heavy downpour and there’s a reduction in the number of wheelie bins now blowing past my window.
The Strathclyde ParkRun is an ‘out and back’ course and more ften than not the wind’s behind the runners for the first half. We may not get back!
So whilst I’ve been trying for months to get back through the 22 minute barrier I can’t see it being done today! It’s all about the taking part. I suppose…
Result should be posted around 10.45. If I return…..
Must run.
BHOYJOE, I can remember listening with my dad to Brian Matthews and The Saturday Club in the late fifties then Easy Beat in early sixties.
CV,
999 times out of a 1000…..,that overhead kick results in him kneeing himself in the gub…..however…..Billy McKay made an exception to the rule…..and cracked a belter past Fuderingham…..lol…..;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
SFTB
I agree with most of what you say – but the pedant in me must point out that Joe Hansen had not yet had his POTY season ( with us at any rate) on that bitter night.
Enjoy the game today
Jimbo67
sftb
No ‘Norwegian Diddy?’
Full Titles CSC
Meanwhile Just outside Jobo Balde’s House
DownTownEastKilbride CSC
Ron B
Saturday club and easybeat remember those programmes the light programme. Seem to remember keith Fordyce having a go on saturday club. Great times those 60s and a certain football team to make things a great deal better.
Jobo,
jist run with the wind at yer back for, say 20 mins…..and see how much you broke yer record…..the fact that it’s on the hard-shoulder, shouldn’t diminish it….;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
Can’t believe am still pissed off at Eurochamps….;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
That awkward moment when it’s correctly pointed out to you that you’re calculations regarding potential for zombie relegation dependent on 1st or 2nd administration events are flawed due to not taking the split into account…
Still, popcorn supplies stored for another day :)
Off out to the Rugby but with Celtic Park tickets gone to a good home so I thought I would repost this for anyone interested.
LISBON UPDATE
Good Afternoon All.
Just thought I would do a quick Lisbon update for everyone who has contacted me and for anyone who hasn’t.
There are a considerable number of CQN’ers heading out to Lisbon for the 50th anniversary of Celtic winning the European Cup.
The majority of us are flying out on the 23rd and 24th of May but others are arriving as early as the 21st and staying until the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th.
Most people are staying in Lisbon City Centre but some others have chosen to stay half an hour up the coast in Estoril with some staying in the Palaccio Hotel where the team stayed during that famous week 50 years ago.
As well as our group there are various groups and projects heading out to Lisbon including Mouldy’s team of cyclists and all their support personnel, and those intrepid individuals who are driving to Lisbon in a 1967 Hillman Imp in an attempt to recreate the journey undertaken by the late John Quinn of the Evening Times.
There will be at least two film documentary crews in Lisbon in relation to these events as well.
The Portuguese Cup Final takes place in the Estadio Nacional on the 28th of May and some have been told that entry to the stadium will be restricted and possibly not granted at all.
I have personally been in touch with the Stadium Manager and he is liaising with the Portuguese FA and other authorities concerning controlled access to the stadium on the 25th. On average, one Celtic fan visits the stadium per day every day, and very often groups of Celtic fans just wander into the stadium of their own accord.
I am told that stadium access will be granted on the day and I am trying to organise that this takes place in a properly organised way with there being a tour, photo opportunities and the ability for a large crowd to celebrate at a specific prearranged time so that it can be caught on film etc.
The stadium manager has thus far been very accommodating and encouraging and promises to wear his personalised and numbered (67) shirt on the day.
On the 24th, I have tentatively organised a four-course meal with wines and beers in Lisbon City Centre. The venue is all but chosen, menus discussed and arrangements made.
The venue is a former 17th century palace in the very centre of Lisbon and within walking distance to most hotels where I know fans are staying. It is also very close to the Rossio Metro station, and so for anyone staying slightly further afield.
The event will consist of dinner, drinks, live music from a Celtic FC orientated band, maybe a short presentation or two, a charity raffle, some singing, possibly dancing and a lot of smiles and laughter.
Places at the dinner will be strictly limited to 250.
There are also one or two other events in the offing but which are not yet confirmed including a concert like event which will hopefully take place on the evening of the 25th.
For those staying till the 28th or beyond, arrangements have been made with a suitable licensed venue from which to watch the Scottish Cup Final.
On the 26th of May, ACGR is arranging a golf tournament for golfers and caddies (or drunks who can’t play golf as they are otherwise known) and he will be in touch regarding that when he has finished putting up shelves and hoovering the grass in Spain for the size 22!
For anyone who is interested, I can arrange a walking food and drink tour of Lisbon where a very nice lady who is an expert local guide will take you round some of the lesser known areas of Lisbon to sample some local food and drinks.
There is also a similar tour which involves hopping on and hopping off the famous 28 tram as it circles its way around Lisbon.
For those who are so minded, there is also the possibility of a small organised party heading out on the ferry across the River Tagus (15 minute journey) to a recommended restaurant at the other side of the river where you can sample excellent food and wine before taking the ferry home again.
For anyone who has not yet decided to come or who is half thinking about it, there are flights from Scotland direct to Lisbon on the 23rd and 25th of May, and various other options are available from other UK airports or travelling via London, Dublin or Amsterdam.
Hotels are in high demand for the period concerned but I know of a few places where rooms can still be booked at a reasonable price though some agencies are now quoting outrageous prices ( as in thousands of pounds per night) for certain hotels in the city.
Since being lumbered with this task by Malorbhoy and Old Tim, I have taken the bull by the horns and decided that if you are going to do something you are as well doing it right and as such I have tried to think of as many details as possible and make as many arrangements as I possibly can to make sure anyone going has a great time.
However, for the avoidance of doubt, once we get to Lisbon I will be in the bar sitting on my arse watching the world go by as that is what I am best at.
Anyone who wants to know any more, who wishes any of the details regarding the above or who needs any help with accommodation can contact me at jjoe88@hotmail.co.uk.
Please allow a little time for me to answer but I will get back to you.
Cheers (literally)
BRTH
*your
COYBIG,
HH to all, and especially to those who are lucky enough and able enough to make the effort to attend Paradise.
MIKE IN TORONTO on 24TH FEBRUARY 2017 9:00 PM
VFR … I’m not much of a drinker, but recently, Liam in Toronto gave me a couple of French ciders to try … magnifique!…. Cidre Breton was one…. so much nicer than most of the ciders I have tried…. there was another one that was even nicer, but I cant remember the name … I’ll ask him the name, and let you know. about the same price as our normal ciders, but so much nicer….
——–
But I can’t remember the name……..
CurseOfThe9%CiderCSC
HH jamesgang
Morning Bhoys.
Looking a bit bleak out there.
Fry up nailed and counting down til the Tally opens then off to Paradise.
Stay safe out there
HH
BSR @9:40
Very good 0:-))
Greenpinata
Mine is a 200 miles round trip but it is certainly not an effort !!
Do you live too far away to make attendance possible?
JJ
Jamesgang
Considering your surname, the apostrophe omission in ` cant` is forgiven.
JJ
KEVINBHOY,
what will be…..will be…..we can discuss the minutae….after…..be it point deductions…..LNS…..Res12…..how much they own Mike Ashley…..what moneys need to be ringfenced, as a result, what of their 3 Amigos…..;-))
idesofMarchCSC
FTSFA
H.H.
BHOYJOE, from 1960 to 1965 I woul listen to the show in the morning then play for the Boys Guild football team in the afternoon.
Goodest morning fholks.
My wee ghirl Aoife,who’s 8,is making her Celtic Park debut today.Hope the weather clears up a bit for her first game.My bhoy,my ghirl and me all watching the bhoys together,hoopy days. ;))
Is third a strong second?
COYBIG
Like some others on here, I have Sounds of the Sixties on in the background. When ” Glad all Over ” was played , I was reminded of the Sevcoites heavily promoted attempt to get the song to No 1. How did that end up?
Roy Orbison`s ” It`s Over ” might soon be a better choice for them 0:-)
JJ